Christmas events planned in many communities

WATERVILLE -- Downtown's annual Parade of Lights is planned for 6 p.m. Friday on Main Street. The parade will begin at the north end of Main Street and end at Castonguay Square with the lighting of the giant spruce and Santa's arrival at Kringleville.

WATERVILLE — Downtown’s annual Parade of Lights is planned for 6 p.m. Friday on Main Street. The parade will begin at the north end of Main Street and end at Castonguay Square with the lighting of the giant spruce and Santa’s arrival at Kringleville.

Kringleville will be open through Saturday, Dec. 22. Visit kringleville.com for more information.

There will be horse and carriage rides, a community sing-along, hot chocolate, cookies and a visit from Santa and Frosty the Snowman.

Christmas at Fort Western,

tree lighting Saturday

AUGUSTA — The staff of Old Fort Western will participate in the city of Augusta’s annual tree lighting in conjunction with the Augusta Downtown Alliance Saturday. All are welcome to ride over on the trolley or walk over the bridge from downtown Augusta to visit the fort and participate in activities from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Visitors can warm up by the hearth and participate in paper cutting and Christmas caroling. There will be a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” and hot chocolate and mulled cider will be available.

Have your photo taken at the fort for $2, bring your own camera we will take a photograph in a historic holiday setting. For $2 more per person, organizers can provide costuming for the portrait. Proceeds will benefit Old Fort Western’s educational programming.

Admission is free. For more information, call 626-2385, during normal business hours, or visit oldfortwestern.org.

Skowhegan’s Holiday Stroll kicks off Nov. 30

SKOWHEGAN — The Holiday Stroll will kickoff Friday, Nov. 30. with the Parade of Lights through downtown. Cookie decorating, photos with Santa, sleigh rides and more are planned Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2.

Breakfast with Santa in Canaan Dec. 1

CANAAN — Canaan Elementary sixth-grade students will host Breakfast with Santa. Santa will visit from 1 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Canaan Elementary School. Children can have their photo taken with Santa. Other events include face and nail painting, a silent auction, raffle, a cookie walk, games and more.

Tickets for breakfast cost $5 for adults, $3 for children 10 and younger. For more information, call Jamie Fitzgerald at 399-8952 or Margaret Theriault at 474-3901.

Belgrade prepares for Christmas Stroll

BELGRADE LAKES — The village of Belgrade will host its annual Christmas Stroll Saturday, Dec. 1. Tree-lighting ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in the village triangle.

Participants can pick up a Holiday Passport, available throughout the village. Have the passport marked at participating businesses, return your completed card with a donation (cash or food items) for the Belgrade/Rome Food Pantry to the Village Inn for a chance to win a prize.

The following events are planned:

* A holiday fair and gingerbread house contest will take place 10 a.m. -3 p.m. at the Belgrade Community Center for All Seasons. Gingerbread houses will be judged at 2 p.m. and will be displayed in the village during the stroll.

* A cookie walk is set for 2-5 p.m. at Wings Hill Inn. Participants can pay a fee and assort a box of cookies made by local bakers to take home.

* Santa will light the Christmas tree at 4 p.m. in the village. Messalonskee High School chorus will sing carols throughout the afternoon.

* The Village Peddler Gift Shop will provide refreshments while participants wait for a horse-drawn wagon ride through the village to Lakepoint Real Estate.

* Santa and local artists will be available at the Maine Lakes Resource Center.

* Hot cider and caroling are planned at the Belgrade Health Center, 142 Main St.

* Cabaret Night is set for 5-9 p.m. at the Village Inn. Drop off Holiday Passports to win prizes; hot cocoa and Christmas cookies will be available.

* Children can write and send letters to Santa at Balloons & Things.

* Messalonskee High School Robotics Club demonstrations will be ongoing at the post office parking lot. There will also be a bake sale.

* Those interested can make s’mores in front of a cozy outdoor fire at Days Store. Music will be provided by Gerry Fotter. An outdoor movie is planned weather permitting.

* Lakepoint Real Estate will offer beverages and treats while participants wait for the horse-drawn wagon ride through the village.

* Belgrade Lakes Day Spa will have a drawing for a wellness package.

Chester Greenwood Day

set for Dec. 1 in Farmington

FARMINGTON — Chester Greenwood Day, the annual celebration of the inventor of earmuffs from Farmington, will be celebrated Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. downtown. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. at Mallet School, Quebec Street.

Chili and Gingerbread House contests will take place after the parade at Bangor Savings Bank, Main Street. Chester Greenwood flag raising will also follow the parade at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Farmington Historical Society will display vintage Greenwood items at the Titcomb House. Horse and buggy rides are set for noon-1 p.m. An earmuff fashion show will begin at 1 p.m. in Meetinghouse Park. The Polar Bear dip into frigid Clearwater Lake will take place at 3 p.m.

For more information, call 778-4215.

Tree lighting planned

in Gardiner Dec. 8

GARDINER — The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. downtown. The Who-ville Parade featuring Santa will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8

Christmas at Norlands events set

LIVERMORE FALLS — The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center’s interactive holiday celebration is set for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Participants can enjoy 19th century games, mansion tours, stringing popcorn and crafts, caroling around the piano in the ladies’ parlor in the mansion, readings in the one-room schoolhouse, jingle bell wagon rides, molasses cookies and mulled cider made, and the simply decorated Washburn mansion.

Kerck Kelsey, Washburn family descendant and historian, will talk about Washburn family Christmases during the 19th century. A cookie walk ($5) will benefit the barn rebuilding fund. Fill a bag with homemade cookies.

General admission cost $8 for adults, $6 for children younger than 12, $25 per family. For more information, call 897-4366 or visit Norlands.org.

Hinckley’s historic Prescott Hall will be decked out in splendid Holiday regalia. Beautifully decorated trees will sport its unique theme and style. Tree viewing are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, through Friday, Dec. 14. The event is free and open to the public.

Down Home Cooking and tree lighting ceremony will begin at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner begins at 5:45 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 children 12 and younger, free for children younger than five. Tickets must be ordered in advance. For tickets, call 238-4280 or email [email protected]

Live entertainment will be provided by Kennebec Valley Chordsman and Clogging Commotion starting at 7 p.m.

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